Quiz: What Military Nickname Do You Deserve?: HowStuffWorks

What Military Nickname Do You Deserve?

MILITARY

12.4K PLAYS

By: Zoe Samuel

5 Min Quiz

Image: Thinkstock Images / Stockbyte / Getty Images

About This Quiz

When we turn our minds to military history, many names come to mind. What is crazy is how many of those names were either nicknames, or variations on the names of the leaders in question. Peter the Great was in fact named Peter, but his last name was not "the Great". Genghis Khan's name was neither Genghis nor Khan. It was Temüjin. Does the name Bennosuke sound familair? How about Bennosuke's later nom de guerre, Miyamoto Musashi, a name synonymous with sword mastery and military strategy in Japan? The Desert Fox was the name bestowed on Irwin Rommel by the British, just as Charles Martel's "surname" translates as "hammer" and refers to his battle prowess, not his heritage.

Military nicknames can come from anywhere. Watch the credits of Top Gun and you'll read the call signs of the pilots who flew the aircraft in the film. Watch the film Full Metal Jacket and you'll see a representation of how some soldiers get their nicknames in the cruelest way possible. We came up with a gentle, fun way for you to find your military nickname! You don't need a Parris Island haircut or a wingman to get one anymore! Just take this quiz, and we'll give you a unique nickname that reflects your soldierly qualities!

At what age would you enlist?

20

22

21

18

Advertisement

Who do you think will enlist with you, of the people you know?

My childhood best friend

No one

My cousin

My sibling

Advertisement

What skill would you excel in, in basic training?

Shoe polishing

Edged weapons

Firearms

Long distance running

Advertisement

What sort of specialty would you be most interested in?

Journalism, for Stars and Stripes

I just want to be infantry.

Artillery

Medicine

Advertisement

What is your best weapon?

My wits

Anything that holds an edge

Surprise!

Patience

Advertisement

How would you take out a sentry in an urban setting?

I'd sneak past.

I'd garrote him.

I'd take him out with a sniper rifle.

I'd choke him out.

Advertisement

What is your preferred hand-weapon?

A pen!

A tomahawk

An M1911

An M-4

Advertisement

Which vehicle would you most like to drive/pilot?

A WW2 era Jeep

A horse

The XM1202 Mounted Combat System

An M1 Abrams tank

Advertisement

Which branch of the service interests you the most?

The Army

The Marines

The Air Force

The Navy

Advertisement

How long do you want to stay in?

5-8 years

20 years

30 years

Life

Advertisement

What are your plans for after you get your discharge papers?

Work as a war correspondent

High end bodyguard

Work in investment banking

Become a fitness instructor

Advertisement

How important is it that you have a combat role?

Oh, I don't mind! Give it to someone who really wants it. Don't worry about little old me.

It's the only reason I'm enlisting.

I'd really like the experience.

It's something I'd like, if it has to happen.

Advertisement

All things being equal, where in the world would you most like to serve?

South Korea

Afghanistan

The Middle East/North Africa

Europe

Advertisement

Who do you think is the biggest threat the US military needs to face?

Cyberattacks

Enemy infintration

Conventional military threats from conventional enemies

Things we can't even imagine yet

Advertisement

What style of hand to hand do you favor?

Foot to shin, then run away!

Sayoc System Knife and Stick Fighting

LINE (Linear Infighting Neural-Override Engagement)

MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program)

Advertisement

What rank do you aspire to?

Corporal

Captain

General/Admiral

Colonel

Advertisement

What video game do you think gives the most accurate representation of military life?

Goat Simulator

Hitman

Command and Conquer

Medal of Honor

Advertisement

What movie badass is your military role model?

Pvt. Joker (Full Metal Jacket)

Casey Ryback (Under Siege)

Jed (Red Dawn)

Thomas Beckett (Sniper)

Advertisement

What song do you put on the squad mix tape, when you have to go on patrol?

Bad Company (Bad Company)

Thong Song (Sisqo)

All I Do Is Win (DK Khaled)

Ich Will (Rammstein)

Advertisement

What's your idea of a funny practical joke, on base?

Plastic wrap under the toilet seat

Tripwires

Carry someone outside while they're asleep, bed and all

Fill the shampoo bottle with baby powder

Advertisement

How young do you plan on getting married?

I don't know.

Before 25

22

26

Advertisement

What skills do you think you'll continue to hone after your service is over?

Fitness

Combat skills

Strategic planning

Mental toughness

Advertisement

What games will you play in the field to take your mind off the boredom?

Card games

Five Finger Fillet

Chess

Horse

Advertisement

Once you're allowed to style yourself a little, what sort of personal grooming will you cultivate?

Chops

A full beard

A broom mustache

A handlebar mustache

Advertisement

Would you rather be deployed overseas most of the time, or stay on bases in the USA?

I'd rather be oversees, I think.

Definitely send me overseas.

I might prefer to be in the US, if on the right base.

I'd much rather spend most of my time in the USA.

Advertisement

If you were stuck in a sticky situation, who would you want to come to your rescue?

Navy SEALs

A hot Corpsman

Air support

Artillery support

Advertisement

Of these people, which American military man do you admire the most?

Douglas MacArthur

Ernest Hemingway

William Tecumseh Sherman

George Custer

Advertisement

What tactic would you lean on for invading a frontier enemy base?

Psyops

Infiltrate at night, and silently kill everyone

Pummel the base with bombs until it surrenders, or it's no longer even dust

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!

Get smarter every day! Subscribe & get 1 quiz every week.

Playing quizzes is free! We send trivia questions and personality tests every week to your inbox. By clicking "Sign Up" you are agreeing to our
privacy policy
and confirming that you are 13 years old or over.